Neil Marshall's films: The Descent and Centurion

[alexandral]

Having finished both of Neil Marshall’s films (The Descent and Centurion) close together, I noticed one shortcoming of his style, namely the lack of character development and character depth. What Neil is good at is visual world-building. Both films look good enough to be windows in the real world. But the characters? They don’t seem to be his main

Comments

[alexandral]

I have tried HEX just recently - and it is indeed extremely horrible. I have feeling the first time I saw Fassbender was in "Holby City" (British medical drama I used to watch before the Broadband era, when my daughter was very small and I had no choice but to watch British TV because I was house-bound and film rental was not that cheap).

I have nothing against the baths and the sewers, but I feel that the cultures of the lands they were conquering deserved a chance. :D I think I tend to automatically take the side of the weak in any situation.

[alexandral]

I think I am generally just against the whole feel of colonialism that Roman films often represent. It is no brainer that sanitisation > than human sacrifice, but what I totally object is that non-Romans are always portrayed in these films as savage non-entities. So I am not arguing re: who is the greater evil because this is a hard point to argue, I just object to the fact that nations as Picts are always de-humanised.

And I must confess that it is often USA films that do this, consequently, I draw parallels.

[lydzi]

IA about Fassbender. I like him allright but the all fuss is... well let's just say is the flavour of the day and I'm allright with it but not the best thing I ever had either.

I didn't watched those movies but he's the guy who'll be directing the great episode from season 2 in GoT right? Well at least he won't need the character development. Script has it on its own and his episode will have lots of visual impact more than anything.

khghk I can't wait XD.

[alexandral]

Yes, this is the director that is going to do one of the episodes in GoT. I agree with you - the character development is already there, if anything, I always want GoT to look more "real" visually. there are some little things that keep distracting me in CoT and throw me out of the feeling of reality.

[meganbmoore]

I watched the trailers for Centurion, saw that they were all "and then the brave Romans went across the wall to commit genocide but were almost wiped out by those nasty savages and hounded by the scary savage woman" then looked up the promotional stuff and saw the bonus "and she has no tongue!" and swore off the very idea.

While I'm interested in the Roman Empire itself and theoretically like lots of fiction about it, in actuality the colonialist mindset involved gets to me too much, and even things that try to be aware of the colonialism involved still tend to default to the Roman POV.

I suppose I'm one of the Fassbender fen, but my main point of referrence for him is The Devil's Whore, where he played against type and was almost the only male character I didn't hate or have contempt for by the end.

[alexandral]

I must say that the Pict lady with no tongue was the best thing about the film, so I wanted her to win. "The Descent" was a film about women , though.

Yes, there is always that feel about Romans-related works. And although I tend to overlook this is non-fiction because it usually just concerns itself with the overall progress, I do grudge it in fiction. Because people were the same everywhere, I am sure. :D

I have only seen a couple of the episodes of "The Devil Whore", and although I though it was a good miniseries (must watch it in full one day!) I can not remember Fassbender to save my life.

[soniag]

Besides, I have to say a couple of words about Michael Fassbender. Namely, I do not understand what the fuss is all about. I have seen him in few films recently and I can safely say that although he is not a bad actor, at the same time he has nothing to write home about.

Omg, HERESY!!!!

(just kidding. I do love him so.)

[alexandral]

Hee! I confess I have not seen his version of "Jae Eyre" yet, and all the fans of his that I know tend to view that movie as his staple. But.. may be I never tried to watch it because Fassbender looks totally opposite any description of Rochester I remember from the books?

[soniag]

If you are not predisposed to like him, I don't think JANE EYRE will change your mind. His torment is a little quieter, and he doesn't tease and torture Jane so much as in the book. Most people say he is too handsome for the role, but perhaps you wouldn't have that complaint? (heee!) He is a thin and angular Rochester, and there is a nice touch of menace to him.

I likd him in Centurion, despite the near void of character development. His earnestness (is that a word?) appealed to me. I was SO GLAD that they didn't make too much of the romance. I mean, there could have been a really dreadful and totally gratuitous sex scene in that movie. Instead it held on to its romantic innocence. :)

But yeah, not a great movie. The computer generated blood spatters really started to annoy me after a while. I hope it won't be so obviously fake in this dude's ep of GAME OF THRONES.

[alexandral]

Oh, I do think he is too handsome for the role, and too.. "tame"? Also all the psychical characteristics - dark hair and Byronic brow, are so not there. I don't know, he is just so not it.

I think he was fine enough in Centurion, and I was even enjoying his role up to a point. Until the romance part came along. The obligatory romance part was just so ridiculous beyond belief that I could not believe my eyes.

I did like the way the movie looked, though. I think Marshall is great at action scenes.

[nutmeg3]

I found The Descent really scary, but you're spot on about the characterizations or lack thereof. I remember differentiating them in my mind by physical and behavioral characteristics, because none of them came across as real people.

And fwiw, I don't think I could pick Michael Fassbender out in a police line-up. I'm not even sure if I've seen him in anything other than pictures people on my f-list have posted, but he clearly didn't strike me as the least bit memorable.

[alexandral]

Yes. I was reallY REALLY confused as to who is who in "The Descent" during the first 1/3 of the film, so I had to stop and Google all the actresses.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Your description of Fassbender is v. funny.

[soniag]

Nutty! You're breaking my heart.

Clearly I need to avoid this thread or I will cry . . .

;)

[nutmeg3]

Awwww, I'm sorry. I think it may be an age thing. I kind of don't notice the young guys. ::is an embarrassed crone::